This 1966 masterpiece of penal history is a primary research text from the Charles V. Gruzanski collection, serving as an essential reference for historic Japanese martial and arresting arts.

Key Features & Content

• The “Enlarged” Update: This 1966 edition was significantly expanded to 282 pages. Nawa added critical new material regarding arresting tools (捕具, hogu) and additional historical illustrations that were not present in the 1963 original.
• Scientific Documentation: The book provides a meticulous record of Shogunated interrogation and torture methods, such as Hizaguruma (kneeling on sharp slats under heavy stones). It documents the strict legal protocols required to extract a confession—a prerequisite for a death sentence at the time.
• Judicial History: Beyond torture, the text explores the entire lifecycle of Edo justice, including formal sentencing, public shaming at Nihonbashi, and the logistics of exile to remote islands.

Signature & Provenance

• Historical Context: While this specific volume lacks a personalized inscription, the English signature indicates it was intended for an international associate. Its presence in the Charles V. Gruzanski collection confirms its role as a primary research text for my father, the American pioneer who first brought these “secret” Japanese arts to the West.
• The Signature: This copy features a clean, standalone signature by Yumio Nawa in English script on the red endpaper.